UPDATE: I-75 SB reopens near Tampa after fiery crash

UPDATE...The southbound lanes of Interstate 75 reopened to traffic north of Tampa late Thursday after a fiery early-morning crash between a mail truck and a dump truck damaged the roadway.

EARLIER: The southbound lanes of Interstate 75 in Pasco County will be closed until at least 6 p.m., officials said Thursday following a fiery early-morning crash involving a tractor trailer and a dump truck.

The Florida Highway Patrol said no one was injured in the 6:30 a.m. crash. Both drivers got out of their vehicles and were taken to hospitals for observation.

FHP spokesman Steve Gaskins said crews will have to repair the damaged asphalt on the interstate, which will take most of the day. He said both vehicles should be removed within a few hours.

Officials from the U.S. Postal Service were at the scene to collect mail, much of which was burned or destroyed in the fire. Debby Fetterly, a spokeswoman for the postal service, told the Tampa Bay Times (http://bit.ly/YtOauR) the truck was carrying magazines and third-class mail from Jacksonville to Tampa. Customers who believe they may have had mail on the truck should call the postal service's consumer affairs office at 813-354-6265.

Gaskins said southbound traffic was cleared from I-75 by about 9:30 a.m. Traffic is being diverted to exit 279 toward State Road 54.

The mail truck crashed into a construction zone guardrail before partially jackknifing into the center median. A dump truck crashed into the truck, resulting in the fire.

FHP said the truck was operated by Jacksonville-based Pat Salmon & Sons of Florida. Driver Mark Alan Berrier, 55, was taken to University Community Hospital in Tampa. The dump truck's driver, Manuel Francisco Rodriguez Rivera, 42, was taken to Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. His truck belongs to R & D Hauling of Land 'O Lakes.

EARLIER: A major crash involving two commercial vehicles has closed southbound lanes of Interstate 75 north of Tampa, the Florida Highway Patrol is reporting.

Troopers say the crash happened about 6:30 a.m. today, just north of State Road 56 in Pasco County. It will take crews until at least 6 p.m. to repair damage to the highway. One northbound lane was open Thursday morning.

Troopers say a tractor trailer crashed into a guardrail, causing it to partially jackknive and hit the center median. A dump truck following behind crashed into the truck. The drivers were able to get out of both vehicles, which caught fire.

Both drivers were transported to area hospitals, TBO.com is reporting.

FHP says the U.S. Postal Service is on the scene to recover mail that was being carried by the truck. Much of the mail was damaged or destroyed.

Motorists needing to travel through the area are advised to take alternate routes, including U.S. 41 and U.S. 301, according to troopers.

EARLIER: A major crash involving two commercial vehicles has closed southbound lanes of Interstate 75 north of Tampa, the Florida Highway Patrol is reporting.

Troopers say the crash happened about 6:30 a.m. today, just north of State Road 56 in Pasco County. It will take crews until at least 6 p.m. to repair damage to the highway. One northbound lane was open Thursday morning.

Troopers say a tractor trailer crashed into a guardrail, causing it to partially jackknive and hit the center median. A dump truck following behind crashed into the truck. The drivers were able to get out of both vehicles, which caught fire.

Both drivers were transported to area hospitals, TBO.com is reporting.

FHP says the U.S. Postal Service is on the scene to recover mail that was being carried by the truck. Much of the mail was damaged or destroyed.

Motorists needing to travel through the area are advised to take alternate routes, including U.S. 41 and U.S. 301, according to troopers.